Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon follows 14-year-old Usagi Tsukino, a klutz and crybaby who receives the power to transform into a magical warrior named Sailor Moon, Soldier of Love and Justice. Transforming not only changes her clothes, but grants her access to supernatural powers to fight enemies. The story is set in Tokyo, Japan. There are five primary arcs to the series, plus several short stories that accompany the core narrative. The arcs reflect the primary antagonists and themes the protagonists face in those chapters. The five story arcs are: The Dark Kingdom Arc, The Black Moon Arc, The Infinity Arc, The Dream Arc, and The Stars Arc. This entry focuses on the Stars Arc. The series draws extensively from Classical mythologies, as well as fairytales and other folktales.
Stars Arc (Volume 11, Volume 12):
As Mamoru is farewelling Usagi at the airport to study abroad, his body disappears in a flash and a woman in gold steals his soul. Usagi faints, but is caught by a boy named Kou Seiya – who happens to be the lead singer of Japan’s most popular idol group (a boyband) called The Three Lights. Usagi awakens, disoriented, and goes home. The next day, she believes Mamoru got safely onto his plane to America; and Chibiusa returns home to the 30th Century. When an evil Sailor Soldier (known as a Sailor Animamate) attacks them at a school music concert, Usagi and her Sailor Soldiers are shocked when a trio of shadowy figures appear, destroy the enemy, and leave. A mysterious young girl moves into Usagi’s house, and everyone calls her ChibiChibi, believing her to be Usagi’s second daughter from the future. The Three Lights transfer to Usagi’s school, and Usagi gets to know Seiya, though she has no memory of fainting in his arms at the airport.
Gradually, in pairs, all of the Sailor Soldiers are defeated by either a Sailor Animamate, or the unknown golden-clad woman, until only Usagi remains. The three shadowy figures reveal themselves to be a trio of protectors from outside the milky way known as the Sailor Starlights: Sailor Star Fighter, Sailor Star Maker, and Sailor Star Healer. Usagi’s repressed memories of Mamoru’s death finally return, and despite the initial hesitance of her former friends, she allies with the Sailor Starlights. The Sailor Starlights reveal their kingdom was destroyed by the golden-clad woman, Sailor Galaxia, and they were searching for their Princess Kakyuu on earth using the disguise of a boyband. An incense burner that ChibiChibi has been obsessively protecting is revealed as the place where Princess Kakyuu was hiding. Together, they all pursue Sailor Galaxia at her hideout: Sagittarius Zero Star.
As they make their journey, they encounter Sailor Lethe and Sailor Mnemosyne, who vanquish the cats Luna, Artemis, and Diana. In the 30th Century, a concerned Chibiusa secretly transforms, and travels to the past with her Sailor Quartet to help Sailor Moon. As Sailor Moon finally befriends Sailor Lethe and Sailor Mnemosyne, they are defeated by Sailor Chi and Sailor Phi, who also destroy the Sailor Starlights. Sailor Moon, Princess Kakyuu, and Sailor ChibiChibi encounter Sailor Heavy Metal Papillion, who nearly destroys them; however, Sailor Chibimoon and her Amazoness Quartet arrive and defeat her first. Princess Kakyuu transforms into Sailor Kakyuu to continue their battle, and destroys Sailor Phi, but is defeated by Sailor Chi, who in turn is defeated by Sailor Moon.
At the entrance to Sailor Galaxia’s castle, Sailor Moon sees her friends and Mamoru reanimated with evil magic, and they try to kill her. After a painful battle, Sailor Moon destroys the reanimations, and tries to reclaim their souls so they can be truly brought back to life. However, Sailor Galaxia steals them first. She reveals she targeted Sailor Moon to incite her to release the power of her Illusionary Silver Crystal, for Sailor Galaxia to steal. Sailor Galaxia says she was born poor and weak, and wants to vanquish Chaos, the source of all evil, to create a perfect universe that she will rule with only the strongest Sailor Soldiers. Sailor Galaxia tosses the reanimated Mamoru into the Galaxy Cauldron, the source of all life, and Chibiusa vanishes. Chaos speaks from within the Cauldron, saying it hungers for Sailor Moon’s power.
ChibiChibi suddenly speaks at last, telling Sailor Moon to destroy the Cauldron. This will permanently remove Chaos and all evil from the universe, but it will also prevent any other souls from being born, eventually causing the end of all life. Sailor Moon refuses, insisting that the beauty of life is worth all the hardships and evils one must endure, and a weakened Sailor Galaxia finally dies, inspired by her words. ChibiChibi changes form into a woman who looks identical to Sailor Moon; but before Sailor Moon can react, Chaos attacks. Sailor Moon descends into the Cauldron, stating she finally understands her enemies were just as lonely as she once was, before she met her friends. She releases all her power inside the Cauldron and defeats Chaos. She speaks to Sailor Cosmos, the true form of ChibiChibi, who says she came from a future devastated by war and intended to wipe out all evil; however, now she is inspired by Sailor Moon to return to it and keep fighting. Sailor Moon also speaks to a small fairy-like creature who calls itself Guardian Chaos, who assures her Chaos and evil can never truly be eliminated.
Guardian Chaos offers Sailor Moon the chance to be reborn into a new life, or return with her friends to her current life and continue fighting. Usagi chooses her current life, and all her loved ones are truly restored to life. Chibiusa promises Usagi she’ll be waiting for her in the 30th Century. Many years into the future, Usagi and Mamoru are married, surrounded by all her friends.
